The home inspection business is very competitive and it is crucial for inspectors to stay ahead of their competition to grow their business. Here are three tips to help home inspectors grow their business.

Get a Website

The internet plays a major role in our everyday lives and home inspectors must have an online presence. When today’s consumers need something done, they go straight to Google and look at the first few results. Being in this business without a web site is like going to an inspection without a flash light. You’re missing something crucial! Buying a domain name and creating a simple website is easier than you think. Hosting companies such as GoDaddy, Network Solutions, and HostGator all offer domains and easy to customize templates that make building a website simple. It is almost as easy as typing a Word document. With GoDaddy for example, you can buy a domain name for just $12 and then pay a small monthly fee of $5 for them to host it. If an inspector is too busy or not comfortable with computers, there are many companies that specialize in creating websites for businesses.

Every website should have contact information, information about the inspector, the services they provide, a sample inspection report, and any relevant information about the business. It is important to have a quality website with good content so that the site will have a good ranking with search engines. To do this, inspectors should take time to add quality content to their site. Writing informative articles about home inspections, as well as including photos and videos is a great place to start. A home inspector should also use search engine optimization (SEO) tools to increase the visibility of the website with search engines. It is important to focus on keywords and phrases, such as your city and home inspection or home inspector. The term "home inspection" is so broad, an inspector is better off focusing their efforts on ranking high for the city or area where they conduct home inspections. For example, a home inspector in Cincinnati would have more success ranking higher for the term "Cincinnati home inspection" or a smaller town within Cincinnati such as Fairfield of Finneytown then they would "home inspection".

Get Involved With Social Media

There are many social media outlets, but the main sites are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. These sites are great for personal use, but also provide an incredible opportunity to connect with current and future clients. Many well-known companies are using social media today because they see the value in it. It provides them with the ability to be in constant contact with their clients. Social media is becoming so popular, that businesses can no longer afford not to be involved. If they don’t jump on board, they are going to be left behind by their competition. The best thing about all of the sites mentioned here is that they are all free to join.

Create Professional Reports

Professional looking reports created with home inspection software can separate a home inspector from their competition and lead to new referrals. Home inspection reports are passed around by potential home buyers, realtors, and past customers with each report having the inspector’s name and company right on the cover. It is important that the report leaves a great impression on whoever sees it because that can lead to a referral for the inspector. A year or two after the home inspection, the report itself may be all the client has or remembers from the inspection. This is why a professional looking report is so valuable to a home inspector.

The above three suggestions are a great way for a home inspector to grow their business. A company website that provides quality content is crucial in today’s world and a must for any business. Once the website is up and running, inspectors need to join the social media phenomenon. Social media provides a great opportunity to connect with customers for free. Lastly, an inspector should not underestimate the importance of a professional looking report. An inspection report is a direct reflection of the inspector and can be a great tool to gain referrals. If a home inspector takes advantage of these opportunities, they will put themselves in a position to grow their business and ultimately making more money.